122 A CHINESE ACCOUNT BY HIUAN TSANG
- We find that the designations for India (Tien-
chu) differ much according to the various authori- ties. The old names were Shon-tu or Hien-tou, but we must now conform to the right pronunciation and call it In-tu. The people of In-tu call their coun- try by various names according to their different dis- tricts. Each country has different customs. Adopting a general name that is the most acceptable to the peo- ple, we shall call the country In-tu, which signifies " moon." The moon has many designations, In-tu being one of them. It is said that all living creatures unceasingly transmigrate, revolving through mortal ex- istences in the long darkness of ignorance without hav- ing a guiding star. It is like the night after the setting of the bright sun, when, although people get light by candles and have the shining light of the stars, these are not comparable with the brightness of the serene moon. For this reason the spiritual condition of India is allegorically compared with the shining moon. 1 The sages and the wise teachers of this country followed the norm (of the Buddha) in succession, guided the people, and exercised rule, as the moon sheds its bright influences on this account this country is called In-tu. The people of India are divided into castes, the Brahmans are noted particularly on account of their purity and nobility. Tradition has so hallowed the name of this class that there is no question as to dif- 1 The candles, stars, moon, and sun are here compared allegorically with the common people, the lay scholars, Buddhist teachers, and the Buddha, according to the degrees of brightness or enlightenment in spiritual matters.
